Jacquie Petrusma: Liberal Government action on Housing Affordability

The new Liberal Government is taking urgent action to ensure that more Tasmanians not only have a roof over their head, but can experience home ownership for the first time.

Affordable rental and Homelessness became unacceptably high under the former Labor-Green Government, with homelessness increasing by 37% in just 5 years, from 1145 people in 2006 to 1579 in 2011.*

That is why the Liberal Government has made the development of a State Affordable Housing Plan a major priority. This plan will provide a clear framework for the next decade around home ownership, affordable rental, public and community housing and crisis accommodation.

We have already held a roundtable with 50 key stakeholders from government, local councils, housing providers, homelessness support groups and representatives from industry bodies and the private sector to discuss what the State Affordable Housing Plan needs to achieve.

And we have delivered on our election commitment to overhaul HomeShare, so as to make it easier for more low to middle income Tasmanians to purchase their own home.

Under HomeShare, the cost of buying a new home is shared with the Director of Housing. By sharing ownership, low to middle income Tasmanians may now be able to buy a house that they otherwise could not afford.

We understand the impact rising cost of living pressures can have on the ability of families and individuals to keep a roof over their head, making initiatives like HomeShare and a State Affordable Housing Plan even more critical.

The Liberal Government is committed to rebuilding essential services to support vulnerable Tasmanians, which is why we are getting on with the job of delivering our long term plan for Tasmania.

*Australian Bureau of Statistics
Jacquie Petrusma, Minister for Human Services